7

go into the open market to get them because there will be a very
large demand for veterinary officers to make good the wastage of
these years of war. In the Provincial and Subordinate Services,
if we are to attract the best type of young Indian, we shall certainly
have to raise the educational standard of our veterinary colleges
and the natural corollary to this is that we must offer higher rates
of pay.

" One word more and I am done. I selected Lahore for this
sectional meeting firstly on account of the outstanding position
which it has for years occupied as a centre of veterinary education
in India, and secondly as a compliment to the doyen of the depart-
ment—Colonel H. T. Pease—who, in a few months, will sever his con-
nection for good with the department with whose interests he has
for so long been identified. Indian veterinary science owes much
to Colonel Pease, and amongst hundreds of students his name will
for long be held in remembrance. I am sure that he takes into his
retirement the best wishes of the whole department, and we all hope
that he will have many happy years in the old country."

Mr. Mackenna then called upon Colonel G. K. Walker to open
the discussion on—

        SUBJECT I.—VETERINARY EDUCATION.

Colonel Walker said :—

" The important subject of veterinary education was included
in the list of subjects for discussion at the meeting of the Board of
Agriculture held at Poona in December, 1917.

" It was discussed by a strong committee, and a report was
submitted to the Board which accepted it. It was felt at the time,
I think, that the subject could not be properly dealt with by the
Board. It is very complex, and a considerable amount of preli-
minary inquiry is required before any concrete conclusions can be
arrived at.

" The committee contemplated a greatly improved organization
for district work in the near future. This was based on the assump-
tion that the policy of the Government of India, as expressed by the
Honourable Member who was present, would be to expand the
department and increase its usefulness. As far as I know, no action
has been taken on the report up to the present, but it is presumed
that Local Governments are to be consulted in the matter.

" I feel that in the absence of any further indication of the
intentions of Government it will be just as difficult to frame any
definite proposals now.